American Airlines Pet Policy 2026: $150 Fee, Carrier Sizes, Rules

American lets small cats and dogs fly in the cabin as a carry-on pet for $150 per kennel, each way, on most flights up to 12 hours within the US and to a few nearby destinations. Checked pets are only for active-duty US military and State Department families. Larger pets go through American Airlines Cargo.

Last checked against American’s own pages on 1 October 2026: Pets and Service animals. Airlines change their rules, so confirm with American before you book.

American pet policy at a glance

Rule	What American says
Carry-on pet fee	$150 per kennel, each way
Which animals	Cats and dogs that meet the size, age and destination rules
Where pets can fly in the cabin	Most flights up to 12 hours: within the 48 contiguous states, US and Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas
No carry-on pets	To or from Hawaii, on trans-Atlantic trips, to Jamaica, and to or from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay
Soft-sided carrier (recommended)	18 x 11 x 11 inches (46 x 28 x 28 cm), all flights
Hard-sided carrier	19 x 13 x 9 inches on American mainline flights; 16 x 12 x 8 inches on American Eagle
Minimum age, within the US and Puerto Rico	8 weeks
Checked pets	Active-duty US military and State Department Foreign Service personnel on official orders only; $200 per kennel ($150 to or from Brazil)
Bigger pets	American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)

Can my dog fly in the cabin on American?

Yes, if your dog is small enough to fit comfortably inside a closed carrier that stays under the seat in front of you for the whole flight. You can bring one pet carrier as a carry-on if you pay the fee.

The carrier takes the place of one of your bags. With it you can bring either a personal item, like a purse or small handbag, or a carry-on bag that fits in the overhead bin, not both.

American doesn’t accept pets that have been sedated or tranquilized.

Can birds fly in the cabin on American?

No. American limits carry-on pets to cats and dogs that meet its size, age and destination rules. Birds can’t travel in the cabin as pets.

Where carry-on pets can and can’t fly

You can travel with a pet on most flights up to 12 hours, or to and from these places: the 48 contiguous United States, Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and St. Thomas. Extra restrictions can apply for Canada and Mexico.

You can’t bring a carry-on pet:

to or from Hawaii;
on trans-Atlantic trips;
to Jamaica;
to or from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia or Uruguay.

If you’re taking a pet to Trinidad and Tobago, you can’t arrive on a flight before 8 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

How much does it cost, and how do I book?

The carry-on pet fee is $150 per kennel, each way, for trips within and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The fee is nonrefundable. If your trip has a stopover or connection of 4 hours or more, the fee applies for each connection segment.

To add a pet: find your trip on aa.com or in the American app, choose “Add carry-on pets” under Additional Services, agree to the requirements, pick the flights and confirm. At the airport, go to the American ticket counter to pay the fee and have your pet and kennel checked. American takes a credit card or paper voucher for pet fees, not cash or checks.

If part of your trip is operated by another airline (look for “Operated by” on your ticket), you pay that airline’s pet fee at its check-in, even if the flight has an American flight number.

Carrier size rules

Carrier	Flights	Maximum size
Soft-sided (recommended)	All flights	18 x 11 x 11 inches (46 x 28 x 28 cm)
Hard-sided	American mainline	19 x 13 x 9 inches (48 x 33 x 22 cm)
Hard-sided	American Eagle	16 x 12 x 8 inches (40 x 30 x 20 cm)

A hard carrier can’t be bigger than the under-seat space on any aircraft in your trip. American suggests calling Reservations to check the maximum for your flights.
Soft-sided carriers can be slightly larger, as long as they fit under the seat without being squashed too much. They must be secure, padded, water-repellent and have nylon mesh ventilation on at least 3 sides.
Pet strollers must be checked at the ticket counter, and checked bag fees apply.

How many pets per flight, and where can I sit?

American’s own aircraft take a maximum of 20 pet carriers per flight across all cabins, not counting service animals.
American Eagle flights (CRJ and ERJ aircraft) take a maximum of 1 pet carrier in the premium cabin and 5 in the main cabin.

Carry-on pets aren’t allowed in:

bulkhead seats or exit row seats;
First and Business on the Boeing 777-200, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9;
seat 13D on the Airbus A321neo, or row 11 on the A321XLR.

In First or Business on the three-cabin Airbus A321T, the carrier goes in a dedicated pet compartment at the front of the plane, and your pet plus carrier can’t weigh more than 20 pounds (9.07 kg). They are weighed at check-in.

How old does my pet need to be?

Pets flying within the US and Puerto Rico must be at least 8 weeks old. For dogs coming into the US, the age and vaccine rules depend on the rabies risk where your trip starts: dogs arriving from high-risk countries must be at least 16 weeks old and have had their rabies shots.

What paperwork do I need?

Bringing a dog into the US: the CDC sets the rules, and they apply to every dog, including returning pets. Check the CDC’s requirements before you travel.
Mexico: a dog needs a New World Screwworm (NWS) Inspection Certificate completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, issued within 5 days before entering Mexico. It’s checked at the airport when you check in, and applies to service dogs too.
Canada: the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has suspended imports of commercial dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies.
Checked pets need a health certificate issued by a vet within 10 days of travel.

Every destination sets its own entry rules, so check them for where you’re going.

Checked pets (military and State Department only)

American only accepts checked pets at the ticket counter for active-duty US military and US State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders. Up to 2 pets can be checked, first come, first served. The fee is $200 per kennel, or $150 to or from Brazil.

Contact Reservations at least 48 hours before travel.
Check in at the ticket counter with your official orders, at least 2 hours and no more than 4 hours before your flight.
Bring a health certificate issued by a vet within 10 days of travel.
Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs and cats of any mix aren’t accepted as checked pets. American’s list includes Boxers, Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus, Mastiffs, Pit Bulls and Chow Chows, and Burmese, Persian, Himalayan and Exotic Shorthair cats.
Heat: no checked pets if the current or forecast temperature is above 85°F (29.4°C) anywhere on the itinerary. Pets not in the cabin can’t travel to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs between May 1 and September 30.
Cold: no checked pets if the ground temperature is below 45°F (7.2°C) anywhere on the itinerary. American may waive the cold limit if you have a letter from a licensed vet.

Can a large dog fly on American?

Not in the cabin. If your pet is too large for a carry-on carrier and you don’t qualify for checked pets, the option is American Airlines Cargo’s American PetEmbark service. Fees vary with the trip and the size of the animal and kennel, and are confirmed when you book.

Service dogs on American

Fully trained service dogs fly in the cabin at no charge. Service animals in training, emotional support animals and comfort animals travel as pets, with the pet rules and fee.
American recommends sending the DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form to its Special Assistance Desk at least 48 hours before your flight. You can also hand in the completed form at the airport on the day; arrive early.
For a trip with a flight over 8 hours, the DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form is required as well.
Once your form is approved you get a Service Animal ID to use for future bookings. It expires when the dog’s vaccination expires.
The dog must be at least 4 months old, clean and well behaved, and harnessed, leashed or tethered at all times.
It must fit at your feet, under your seat or in your lap (lap animals must be smaller than a 2-year-old child). It can’t sit in an exit row, block the aisle or occupy a seat.
Each person can travel with up to 2 service animals.
Dogs entering the US, service dogs included, need a completed CDC Dog Import Form and must meet the CDC’s vaccination and microchip requirements.

Quick answers

Does American allow dogs in the cabin?

Yes. Small dogs and cats can fly as carry-on pets for $150 per kennel each way, on most flights up to 12 hours within the US and to nearby destinations.

Does American allow birds in the cabin?

No. Carry-on pets on American are limited to cats and dogs.

Can I take my dog to Hawaii or Europe in the cabin on American?

No. American doesn’t allow carry-on pets to or from Hawaii or on trans-Atlantic trips.

Can my emotional support dog fly free on American?

No. Emotional support and comfort animals travel as pets. Only fully trained service dogs fly free.

Can I bring a carry-on bag as well as my pet?

You can bring the pet carrier plus one more item: either a personal item or a carry-on bag, not both.